Literary Individual Project Funding

Who can apply

To be eligible for individual project funding, you must be a resident of Alberta. This means you:

1. are a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or Protected Person with an open work or study permit from inside Canada
2. have had your primary residence in Alberta for at least one full year before applying
3. ordinarily live in Alberta for a least six months of each year with the exception of attending a formal program of study

You must be in good standing with the AFA with no open or outstanding projects or reporting to apply. Previous grant recipients must ensure all final reporting has been approved by the AFA before new applications are accepted.

Applicants, including ensembles or collectives, must not be incorporated under either provincial or federal legislation.

Collaborating artists, ensembles, and collectives

Collaborating artists, ensembles, and collectives are eligible to apply to this program if all project co-owners meet the individual eligibility criteria as defined above.

The AFA defines project co-owners as:

1. those who share in the ownership or copyright of the created work
2. those who have a significant financial stake in the project

For the purposes of this funding opportunity, in addition to the lead applicant, co-owners include, but may not be limited to, the following:

1. writers
2. writers/illustrators

Unless identified as retaining ownership or copyright of the work, contributors who are not normally considered co-owners include, but may not be limited to, the following:

1. story/script editors
2. contracted illustrators/visual artists
3. beta readers
4. interview subjects
5. Mentors, Elders, and Knowledge Keepers

Project co-owners must select a lead applicant to submit the application. The lead applicant must ensure all co-owners are listed in the application and is responsible for submitting the complete application before the program deadline.

If the project is approved for funding, the lead applicant is also responsible for receiving and managing any funds and completing any related reporting for the project.

To be eligible for project funding:

1. the applicant must own the copyright of a proposed work
2. a proposed publication must be available and accessible to the general public

Eligible literary genres

For the purposes of this funding opportunity, eligible projects include the below list of genres. Literary arts translation and anthology projects in any of the below genres are also eligible:

1. novels
2. short fiction
3. poetry
4. graphic novels
5. plays
6. young adult fiction
7. picture books
8. literary non-fiction*

*The AFA defines literary non-fiction as a genre that uses inventive or literary techniques to produce work that is factually true and artistically elegant, and is written in a personal, identifiable voice. It can include:

1. biography
2. cultural, political or social commentary
3. history
4. literary journalism
5. memoir
6. personal essays
7. travel writing
8. applicants may submit only one application to the AFA each deadline across all disciplines
9. the AFA does not accept incomplete applications
10. applications must be received prior to the commencement of the project
11. projects involving more than one artist must be submitted by one individual on behalf of the ensemble or group

We do not accept separate applications for the same project.